მიჰრანიანთა დინასტიის განშტოება - ვარაზმანიანთა სახლი და საქართველო
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2019
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Abstract
House of Varazman emerged as a cadet branch Mihranid dynasty of Caucasian
Albania. Initially Mihranids were of Persian origin, but later some of
their members went to South Caucasia and served there as military governors of
Iranian shah in Arran (Caucasian Albania). Mihranids of Arran slowly integrated
themselves with local elite. In 7th century they have established themselves
as hereditary rulers of Arran.
Varaz-Gregory Mihranid was the first ruler of country who received
power from Byzantine Emperor Heraclius in 628 and converted to Christianity.
He had four sons, those were: Varaz-Peroz, Juansher, Yezut-Khosrow and Varazman.
Varaz-Gregory's fief was located in Gardman. Initially he was lord of
Gardman, but also grand prince or the first ishkhan of the country according to
Movses Kalankatuaci. He divided his fief among his sons while his second son
Juansher, who later became ruler, went to Persia in service of local shah Yazdegerd
III and spahbed Rostam Farrokhzād. Here in Persia he received title of
sparapet of Arran returned at home after seven years of service in 637 to rule
the country on the behalf of Persian shan. As far as Sasanian Empire was defeated
by the forces of Caliphate in many battles prince Juansher gained independence
from Sasanians.
Juansher was an ally of Kartli and maintained good relation with local ruler.
Despite this Mihranids gained control over the lands of former Khunani
eristavdom in Kartli that borders Principality of Gardman. It is unknown exactly
when Mihranids gained control over this land, but presumably that could be
dated to the second half of 7th century. Varazman appears to be the one who
held this land. According to “Armenian Geography” (Ašxarhacʽoycʽ) Varazmanavar
was new fortress located in that area. Our conjecture is that Varazmanavar was built by Varazman and later was named after him.
Varazman died before the assassination of his brother, grand prince Juansher (r.
637-681), hence prior to 681. Varazman’s eldest son and successor was Vakhtang.
He became next ruler of principality of Gardman while ruler of Caucasian
Albania was his cousin. He was forced to accept Monophysite position of Armenian
Church in May, 704 as a result of pressure of the Armenians and the
Arabs. But this did not saved him from oppression and Arabs seized Vakhtang
in 705 alongside with other princes of Albania.
Prisoners were sent to Syria and, most probably, Vakhtang never returned
back to homeland.
Next ruler was Varazo son of Vakhtang from the house of Varazman. Varazo
became ruler in 705. He alienated himself from the Armenian position and
Albanian Church and accepted Orthodox Christianity of the Byzantine the
Georgian Churches. Prince Varaz-Bakur of Kartli and comes of imperial Opsikion
was behind this decision. He converted Gardaban (Gardman) to Orthodox
Christianity according to Georgian sources which mean that Varazo was strongly
influenced by Varaz-Bakur. Movses Kalankatuaci names Catholicos Talile of
Kartli who accepted marriage between Varazo and Vardanuh, who were cousins,
hence their marriage was disapproved by Albanian Church and Gardman
became part of the Georgian Church, as well as part of Kartli from political
perspective. Local Georgian elite received members of house of Varazman as
their integral part. Varazman, presumably, son of Varazo, was eristavi of Kartli
accourding to Juansher Juansheriani and he got married with daughter of Mihr,
ruler of Georgia.
This marriage made house of Varazman part of the Georgian royal family
and strengthened their rule over the land of former Khunani eristavdom. Varazman
is called eristavi, hence his position was quite secured in Georgia. Despite
the fact that Varazman was affirmed in his position by Archil II (r. 740-
761) king of Kartli and Egrisi, he and all other eristavs of eastern Georgia were
forced to accept suzerainty of Caliphate.
Varazman had a son – Varaz-Trdat who became next ruler of Gardman
on the edge of 8th and 9th centuries. Account of Juansher Juansheriani makes us
to believe that he was a son of Varazman and daughter of Mihr. Notwithstanding
the fact that house of Varazman was integrated in the Georgian elite later
they reconciled with Albanian Church. Movses Kalankatuaci relates story about
aged queen Vardanuh. She hosted Armenian Catholicos in Gardman and asked
him to remit her sins. Armenian Catholicos asked to Albanian Catholocos Solomon to relieve her from excommunication which was imposed on her family
in 706 by Catholicos Michael of Shakki. Both ecclesiastic leaders decided in
favor of queen Vardanuh and Albanian Church pardoned previous sins to her.
Vardanuh was rehabilitated and, most probably, entire house of Varazman as
well. This happened according to our research in 785. In the same period political
destabilization obstructs peace and order in Georgia. Abbasids were controlling
capital city – Tbilisi and the Georgian royal power was in decline. Various
lords started to struggle with each other for power.
House of Varazman lost their Georgian land of former Khunani eristavdom
known as Gardabani from the end of 8th century. Sanarians were responsible
for this event. They established Kakheti Korepisckopate and included Gardabani
as its initial part. House Varazman was reintegrated in Albania. Movses
Kalankatuaci lists Varaz-Trdat and his successors as Albanian princes which
indicate their Albanian affiliation. Varaz-Trdat was followed by his three sons,
those were: Stephanos, Varazman and Juansherik. They ruled Principality of
Gardman in succession. Ashot I of Karli was probably the last Georgian ruler
who dominated Gardman from 8th and 9th cc. rulers of Georgia. House of Varazman
appears to be an ally and vassal of Ashot. Both parties had the mutual
interests to eliminate Kakhetian threat. Korepiskopate challenged Ashot in Kartli
and House of Varazman in Gardabani, hence they had mutual benefits from
this union. The Georgian historian Sumbat son of Davit (11th c.) has an account
on Ashot ruling over Tbilisi and Barda. This must be understood as the union of
Bagrationi and Varazmaniani under Ashot's suzerainty. Finally, Ashot lost his
control on Gardabani and Gardman due to the conflict with Caliphate and was
assassinated in January, 826. House of Varazman continued to pay tribute to
Caliphate, but maintained independence within Caucasian states.
Nerseh Krtich was next ruler of Gardman. His nickname indicates strong
Armenian cultural influence in the midst of 9th century. Nerseh was captured
and sent to Iraq by Bugha al-Kabir general of Abassid army in 855. Nerseh was
probably the member of House of Varazman as far as his first name was common
in Mihranid dynasty of Albania, but there no direct evidence for this assumption.
Mihranids lost control in Albania in the 9th century, later their cadet
branch – House of Varazman did the same. Varazmanians played important role
in history of Caucasus from the 7 to 9 centuries, hence study of history this family
is vital to understand some key events of Caucasian history of that period.
In our article we have also established basic chronology and genealogy of
House of Varazman.
Description
https://geohistory.humanities.tsu.ge/ge/procedings/83-shromebi/174-shromebi-15.html
Keywords
მიჰრანიანები, ვარაზმანიანები, ვარაზო, ვარაზმან, ერისთავი
Citation
ივანე ჯავახიშვილის სახელობის თბილისის სახელმწიფო უნივერსიტეტის საქართველოს ისტორიის ინსტიტუტის შრომები, XV, თბილისი, 2019, გვ. 91-127 / Ivane Javakhishvili Tbilisi State University Institute of Georgian History Proceedings, XV, Tbilisi, 2019 pp. 91-127